2 Peter 1:1, 1:4 says that believers may participate in the divine nature by means of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God.It does not teach that somehow human believers will become demigods (half god/half man) like that of the Greek and Roman myths.
The Scriptures say that human believers are new creatures NOT new gods.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
The nature of God is spiritual ( John 4:24).It means that it does not have parts and hence, it is indivisible.
John 4:24 (NIV)
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Nature is the whole set of innate attributes that inherently belongs to someone.
God’s nature is all that he is.
To participate in something is to become part of it.
Example:
I have participated in a group. It means that I am part of that group. Therefore, to participate in the divine nature is to belong to it.
The divine nature is an abstract set of innate attributes that inherently belongs to God.
To belong or to become part of something is to be joined or united to it. Hence, to belong to the divine nature is to become joined in it.
The divine nature of God is the glory of God
Romans 1:18-23 (NASB)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,because that which is known about God is evident ]within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
The Father and the Son naturally share the same glory before the world was (John 17:5). Christ is giving that glory to believers so that they might become like (not identical) the Father and the Son:
John 17:22 (NASB) The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
To become joined with the nature of God is to be united with the glory of God.
The glory of God is Christ ( Ephesians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 4:6).
Christ is "the exact imprint of God’s nature" ( Hebrews 1:3 ESV).
To have Christ is to have the divine nature because in Christ lives "the whole fullness of God’s nature" (Colossians 2:9 HCSB).
Our relationship with Christ is described as a marital union. Christ and his followers are “one spirit” because his followers are “joined in him” ( 1 Corinthians 6:17).
According to the immediate context, the believers may participate in the divine nature by means of the exceedingly great and precious promises.
In the Scriptures, there are sevenfold promises of God:
- God’s faithfulness
The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.Psalm 145:15 (NLT)
- Christ
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. Galatians 3:16 (ESV)
- Holy Spirit
And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. Ephesians 1:13 (NLT)
- Second Coming of Christ
2 Peter 3:4 (ESV)
They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
- Eternal life
And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.1 John 2:25 (NLT)
- Kingdom
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? James 2:5 (ESV)
- New heaven and new earth
But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness.2 Peter 3:13 (NLT)
Believers may share in the divine nature means that they may become like God in terms of nature (attributes).
By God’s faithfulness, we may share in his nature.God said that he will make us holy and because his words are truth, we will surely become holy. Hence, his command to us to become holy because he is holy will gonna happen (1 Peter 1:16). The outcome of his promise is that we share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:10). Holiness is one of God’s attributes that composed his nature.
By means of Christ's obedience, we have may receive the promise of eternal life by the promise of the Holy Spirit through faith alone:
so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:14 (ESV)
Those who are born of God had in them the seed of God ( 1 John 3:9).They are being transformed from glory to glory into the same , the image of the Son, to become like God in holiness and righteousness ( Romans 8:29).
and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:24 (NASB)
Only those who are 'in Christ' received the kingdom in which they wait for the second coming of Christ as well as the new heaven and new earth (Luke 17:21;1 Corinthians 16:22).
In the rapture or resurrection, the believers will be immortalized.They will become like God who is naturally immortal (1 Corinthians 15:53;1 Timothy 6:16).
We imitate Adam in doing sin because we share his nature.
In the same way, we imitate God (Ephesians 5:1) because we share his nature.
Satan taught us that by disobeying God we may become like Him but God himself taught us that by obeying Him we may become like Him.